Compare towns
Castleton vs Colrain vs Walden vs Fair Haven
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Castleton has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Colrain has the most expensive homes ($284k median).
Walden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Fair Haven has the most affordable homes ($177k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Castleton | Colrain | Walden | Fair Haven |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,453Highest |
1,627 |
1,037Lowest |
2,724 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
49.6±8.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2 25% above U.S. |
39.2±7.6 about the U.S. average |
| Colrain and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.8%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Fair Haven and Castleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,854±$23k 9% below U.S. |
$80,673±$10k about the U.S. average |
$88,000±$15kHighest 9% above U.S. |
$62,404±$16kLowest 23% below U.S. |
| Walden and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $224,800±$71k 32% below U.S. |
$284,300±$14kHighest 15% below U.S. |
$238,900±$23k 28% below U.S. |
$176,500±$14kLowest 47% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,137±$195Highest 20% below U.S. |
$1,102±$77 22% below U.S. |
$900±$136 36% below U.S. |
$830±$116Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Castleton and Colrain are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$4,317Highest 38% above U.S. |
$3,944 26% above U.S. |
$3,865 24% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±22.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.9%±20.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.2%±3.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.4%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4.3%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #39 of 70 in VT | — | — | #66 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Mohawk Trail | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Fair Haven Union Middle and High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 12 photos → |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.